Inflatable wig support



March 18, 1969 swoon-ram INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORT Sheet Filed Nov. 14,1966 INVENTOR Stanley M Ochtera 1 l g, I 4. 4

March 18, 1969 s. w. OCHTERA INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORT Sheet L of 2- FiledNov. 14, 1966 United States Patent 3,433,395 INFLATABLE WIG SUPPORTStanley W. Ochtera, 33 George St., Roslyn Heights, N.Y. 11577 Filed Nov.14, 1966, Ser. No. 593,888 US. Cl. 223-67 Int. Cl. A41h /02; A45c 11/022 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally towigs and more particularly to new and useful improvements in devices forfacilitating the support, transportation, storage and grooming of wigsand the like.

Ordinarily, wigs are handled, stored and groomed by mounting or fittingthe wig on a rigid head model or form shaped to support the wig in theman-ner in which it is normally worn. Such models are costly, large,heavy, awkward and bulky and are highly inflexible.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a smallshallow container that takes up but a small area with a self-containedresilient head model therein, the container serving as a support for themodel when in inflated condition and as a housing for storing the modeland transporting the same when in deflated condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wig standwhich can be collapsed into a compact form for expediting the carryingand storing thereof and which can be easily and rapidly erected andready for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible Wig standof the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness,versatility and ease of operation.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to thefollowing descriptionand accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a side prespective view of a wig stand embodying one form ofthe present invention and illustrated in an erected condition, asupported wig being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wig stand in collapsedcondition, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective View of the clip for clamping the valve insupported position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bottom end of a wig standembodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of theline 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a wig stand embodying anothermodified form of the invention, in erected condition, parts being shownbroken away, and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the wig stand in collapsed foldedcondition, and

3,433,395 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a still further form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, theimproved wig stand 10 includes a container 12 and a resilientwig-supporting form or head model 14, the container serving as a base.

The container 12 is formed of metal and has a shallow cylindrical body16 with a side wall 18, a flat bottom wall 20 and is open at the topclosa'ble by a flat removable flanged cover 22. Inside the body 16,there is a shallow pan-like metal member 24 having a bottom Wall 26 andside wall 28, an annular bead 30 being formed on the inner surface ofside wall 28 adjacent the top edge thereof. The pan-like metal member 24seats on the inner surface of the bottom wall 20 of the container, andis suitably fastened thereto.

The collapsible inflatable wig supporting form or head model 14 isaflixed to the upper surface of the pan-like member 24 and when the form14 is inflated and in position for use it is directed upwardly from thepan-like member. The form 14 may be formed of a suitable pliablerubberized cloth, flexible saran, polyvinyl chloride ar the like andincludes a spherically shaped head-simulating upper section 34, aconstricted bottom neck section 36 and an open bottom end 3 8. An airinlet port 40 is formed in the body of the form .14, adjacent thejunction. of the upper section with the neck section, and securedtherearound in any suitable manner is one end of a tubular mouth piece42 with restricted open end formed with an annular flange 46. The mouthpiece 42 is formed of the same material as the body of the form 14. Theopen bottom end 38 of the form 3 2 is turned inwardly as indicated at 48and sandwiched between the top surface of the bottom wall 26 of thepan-like member 24 and the peripheral bead 50 on the lower surface of adisc 52 slipped over the annular bead 30 on the side wall 28 of thepan-like member 24, and clamped in position under the bead 30 as bestseen in FIG. 4. The disc 52 secures the form 14 to the pan-like member24 and effects a hermetic seal therebetween.

In the operative position of the wig stand 10, suitable for carrying andstoring purposes, the collapsed form 14 is housed in the container 12,as shown in FIG. 2, the container in turn being closed by the cover 22.The mouthpiece 42 is folded and clamped against the inner side wall 18by means of a spring clip 54 as shown in -FIG. 5. In erecting the wigstand 10 for use, the cover 22 is removed from the container 12. The wigform 14 is now exposed convenient for manually pulling the upper section34 outside of the container. The wig form 14 is now fully inflatedthrough the mouthpiece 42 which is then folded in sealed condition andclamped by.clip 54. The cover 22 is then inverted and slipped over thebottom of the body 16 of the container, serving as a base for supportingthe container and form 14 in an upright position, the form 14 adapted tosupport a wig 56 for any desired purpose. The mouthpiece 42 is orientedto normally preform 14. In order to collapse the wig stand 10, themouthpiece 42 is withdrawn from the clip 54 and opened, the form beingsqueezed to express substantially all the air therefrom. The collapsedform is then housed in the container 12 which is closed by the cover 22.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated anotherembodiment of the present invention and designated generally at 10'. TheWig stand 10' includes a shallow round pan-shaped base 60 andwig-supporting form or head model 14' of similar construction, with itsopen bottom end clamped between the pan-shaped member 24' and disc 52.In this form, the 'wig supporting form is formed with an air port 62 inits neck section 36'. Mounted in the port there is a flanged bushing 64with a flap 66 hinged to the inner flange thereof, the port, bushing andflap constituting a valve 68. The flap 66 is preferably formed of anatural or synthetic rubber.

The base 60 has a bottom wall 20 and side wall 16', the bottom wallhaving a central air port 72 therein and opposed closed vertical slots74. Spaced feet 76 depend from the periphery of the bottom wall 20'. Theair port '72 is controlled by means of a rubber flap 78 hinged at oneend to the inner surface of the bottom wall and normally closing theport.

In this form of the invention, the pan-like member (24' is slidablymounted inside the base and is formed with a central opening 80communicating with an air port 82 formed in the disc 52 and controlledby a rubber flap 84 hinged at one end to the inner surface of the disc.The pan-like member 24' is actuated by means of radial rugs 86 on theside walls 28' of the pan-like member 24, in opposed relation andextending outwardly through the slots 74 in the side walls 16 of thebase. The disc 52 and bottom 'wall 20 of the base are connected by anextensible bellows 88, the top end of which is fixed to the bottomsurface of the disc around the air port 82 in the disc 52', and thebottom end of which is suitably fastened to the inner surface of thebottom wall 20' around the port 72 in said bottom wall 20'.

In use, the wig stand rests on feet 76 on a supporting surface 90. Thewig supporting form 14 may be inflated by blowing air through the valve'68 in the neck portion 36' thereof, or by pressing down on the lugs 86by the fingers as shown in FIG. 7 thereby sucking air through the port72 and forcing air upwardly through the air port 82. When pressure onthe lugs 86 is released, the bellows 88 automatically retracts the portsto normal condition.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a wig stand 10" embodying still anothermodified form of the invention. This form of the invention involves awallet-type wig stand preferably formed of suitable flexible plasticmaterial. The wig stand 10" includes a V-shaped body composed of a pairof rectangular shaped panels 9*6 and 98 flexibly joined at one end. Thepanel 96 is formed with a central opening 100 and the panels havealigned protruding finger pieces 102 at the other ends for manipulatingthe wig stand. The panels are formed with aligned air inlet ports (notshown) and are connected by a bellows 88 one end of which is positionedaround the port in panel 98 and the other end around the port in panel96. The wig supporting form 14" is collapsible to a flat condition onthe panel 96. A sectional wrap-around cover 104 of the same material hasone section 106 secured at one end to the panel 98. Section 106 servesas a base for the stand. The other section serves as a flap 108 adaptedto be swung over the collapsed form 14" covering the same and being heldin covering relation thereon by complementary snap fastener elements 110and 112 on the panel 96 and 98, respectively.

In FIG. 10, an inflated weight supporting form 14 is made open at thebottom and is adhered to a side wall 18' of a container bottom 12'. Theform can be inflated through a mouthpiece 42 and retained by a clip 54'.When the wig support is deflated it can be folded downwardly into thecontainer 12 and a removable cover 22 placed over the same in the manneras shown in FIG. 2.

In use, when collapsed the wig stand 10" may be carried in the pocket ofthe user. In order to extend the parts, it is merely necessary to mnflapthe flap 108, raise the panel '96, manually pull the wig form 14"through the opening 100, move the panel 96 and bellows 88 downwardlythereby forcing air into the form 14" inflating the same. When pressureon the bellows is released, the parts are automatically restored tonormal position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wig stand comprising in combination, a base structure, aninflatable collapsible form and means of connection between the basestructure and the form, said form having an upwardly convex top face anda bottom opening being hermetically sealed to the base structure, thebase structure including a shallow container having a bottom wall, asidewall and being open at the top, and a flanged cover adapted to closethe open top when the form is collapsed into the container, theinflatable form being formed of pliable rubberized cloth, said formhaving a neck section, the neck section having an air inlet porttherein, a valve controlling the entrance of air thereinto, the means ofconnection between the base structure and the inflatable form includinga shallow panlike member fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wallof the container, said pan-like member having a bottom wall: a dischaving a peripheral bead on its lower surface nested in said pan-likemember, the material of the bottom open end of the form being bentinwardly between the head of the disc and the bottom wall of thepan-like member.

2. A wig stand as defined in claim 1, wherein the container has aremovable cover for closing the opening in the top thereof and whereinsaid inflatable form is adapted to be collapsible so as to fit in saidcontainer when the cover is in closing position thereon, said removablecover adapted to fit over the bottom wall of the container and serve asa base for supporting the wig stand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,330 11/1922 Wiener 223673,257,048 6/ 1966 Wolder 223-67 3,289,822 12/1966 Schumer et al. 20683,289,823 12/1966 Weiser et al. 2068 3,300,108 1/1967 Schurner 2484l5 X3,327,842 6/1967 Meredith et al. 248--176 X 3,338,388 8/1967 Igoe et al.2068 3,339,717 9/1967 Rakowitz 206-47 FOREIGN PATENTS 690,407 2/ 1930France.

1,108,303 8/1955 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. GEO. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 206-8

